Established in 1968 through the vision of hopeful immigrants, Kniesel’s Collision has grown from a two-car establishment in the heart of Citrus Heights, Calif., to a six-location enterprise spanning three Northern California counties.

Then and Now

The Kniesels were German refugees displaced to Yugoslavia during World War II. In the 1950s, they immigrated to Citrus Heights via Ellis Island, with the help of a sponsorship program of the Lutheran Church.

It was here in the United States that Richard Kniesel’s passion for car repair and his desire to help people came to fruition. In the 1960s, he opened his first repair shop: a modest two-car garage with an office inside the shop itself.

Through the support of the community and industry partners, the business continued to expand, and Richard Kniesel established the first incarnation of Kniesel’s Collision in 1968. His wife, Lilo, and each of their five children joined him at the shop daily.

Together, they worked to ensure that each customer enjoyed the personal, attentive service for which Kniesel’s has become known. “The commitment to an extraordinary customer experience has helped to build a long-standing reputation of excellence around the Kniesel name,” the MSO said.

“As Kniesel’s Collision continues to grow, the company remains strongly rooted in the family’s founding core values: integrity, trust, quality and servant leadership,” the MSO said in a news release. “The Kniesels are extremely proud of their business culture and are committed to upholding the company’s high standards for service excellence.”

Staying committed to the company’s high standards has enabled the family business to stay relevant in an industry required to keep pace with vehicle technology. Kniesel’s has accomplished this “by investing in state-of-the-art equipment and top-level training for [its] team members, all while maintaining its personal touch.”

“We are truly guided by the foundational core values of the Kniesels, coupled with the desire to ‘wow’ each customer who walks through our doors,” CEO Rob Champe said. “This culture has consistently challenged us to excel in an extremely demanding industry. We want to sincerely thank our insurance partners, vendors, loyal customers and dedicated employees for the trust they have placed in Kniesel’s Collision – a trust that has allowed us to thrive over the past 50 years.”